London: A secret FBI report on Steve Jobs has revealed the hostility he provoked in colleagues and business associates.
Several workers came forward to tell agents that the Apple boss 'twisted the truth', was of 'questionable moral character' and had a tendency to 'twist reality in order to achieve his goals'.
It also reveals that agents were fully aware of his past use of pot and LSD when they were considering if he were fit to potentially take up a post on George H W Bush's Export Panel in 1991.
The files offer a clinical look into the private life of the man many hailed as one of the greatest technology visionaries of his generation.
Under President George H.W. Bush, the FBI in 1991 began questioning Mr Jobs and associates as the increasingly high-profile CEO of Next Inc began to be considered as a candidate for a appointment to the President's Export Council.
A series of interviews with friends and associates -- whose names were redacted by the bureau – painted a familiar picture of a technology visionary who intimidated associates and insisted on getting his way, but whose drive and vision inspired admiration.
Mr Jobs himself admitted in a 1991 interview, days before his wedding, that he had experimented with hashish and LSD in his youth.
One of those interviewed confirmed his use of drugs.
'(The unnamed interviewee) was aware that Mr. Jobs used illegal drugs, including marijuana and LSD, while they were attending college,' the report says.
This find does not come as a massive surprise, as Mr Jobs confirmed his drug use in a previous public interview.
He called his use of such drugs, particularly LSD, 'one of the two or three most important things [he had] done in my life'.
The report, completed in 1991, does mention a thwarted 1985 bomb plot that targeted Apple and Mr Jobs, but the majority of the report focuses on his personal history and personality traits.
According to the FBI, other interviewees called into question his personal integrity and said that he was difficult to work with -- no surprise to those familiar with a life story that emerged over the decades of an intensely private individual.
'Several individuals questioned Mr Jobs’ honesty stating that Mr. Jobs will twist the truth and distort reality in order to achieve his goals,' the report summarized.
Another colleague said Mr Jobs was 'not totally forthright and honest.'
Others said they were bitter at Jobs, with one saying the Apple boss had blocked him from getting stock while more questioned his technical ability.
One colleague said he was 'technically oriented but [...] in the opinion of many, not an engineer.'
The report also discussed his first child that he had with a girlfriend. The girlfriend, Chris Ann Brennan, raised their daughter Lisa on her own for the first two years after Lisa was born because Mr Jobs denied paternity.
'(Interviewees) also commented that, in the past, Mr. Jobs was not supportive of (the mother of his child born out of wedlock) and their daughter; however, recently has become more supportive,' it read.
The majority of those interviewed recommended Mr Jobs as fit for government.
Another interesting point in the files is that the investigators found it important to note that 'Based on the background information furnished by Mr Jobs, he has no close relatives residing in communist-controlled countries'.
The report coincided with the end of the Cold War, which is formally acknowledged as ending in 1991- the same year that the FBI began investigating Mr Jobs.
Because the report redacted all identifying clues as to who the interviewees were, it takes a fine reading between the lines to guess who said what.
Two of the top contenders are Steve Wozniak, Mr Jobs' Apple co-founder who left the company in 1987, and Daniel Kottke, Apple's 12th employee who went to Reed College with Mr Jobs.
Mr Wozniak started the company with Mr Jobs but the two butted-heads, and it is reported that Mr Wozniak questioned some of Mr Jobs' ethical reasonings and his behaviour with his illegitimate daughter. Both of those sentiments are expressed by one of the interviewees, prompting many to assume Mr Wozniak was the man behind it.
Mr Kottke was also suggested as one of the interviewees, though his version of events is slightly sketchier.
He told The Smoking Gun that he had no recollection of being interviewed by the FBI- which seems unusual- but portions of the report sound very much like what he would have said if asked.
The interviewee in question said that when he left Apple, he 'did not receive any stock as a result, which would obviously have made him quite wealthy now' which was true for Mr Kottke.
Mr Jobs died in October after a years-long struggle with pancreatic cancer.
He was recognized for his enormous impact on the media, music and technology industries through such innovations as Apple's iPod and iPhone.
THE FBI'S SECRET FILE: DRUGS, FAMILY DRAMA, BUSINESS DEALINGS
Drugs:'(The unnamed interviewee) was aware that Mr. Jobs used illegal drugs, including marijuana and LSD, while they were attending college'
This find does not come as a massive surprise, as Mr Jobs confirmed his drug use in a previous public interview.
He called his use of such drugs, particularly LSD, 'one of the two or three most important things [he had] done in my life'.
Family:'In the past, Mr. Jobs was not supportive of (the mother of his child born out of wedlock) and their daughter; however, recently has become more supportive'
The child in question is Lisa Brennan-Jobs, who was born in 1978. Her mother was Chris Ann Brennan, Mr Jobs' long-time girlfriend. Ms Brennan raised their daughter Lisa on her own for the first two years after Lisa was born because Mr Jobs denied paternity.
Business:'Several individuals questioned Mr Jobs’ honesty stating that Mr. Jobs will twist the truth and distort reality in order to achieve his goals'
Well before the file was released, Mr Jobs had established his reputation as a strong-willed and often times stubborn boss that was extremely demanding.
